Got to fish for a little while yesterday and caught 17 bass in less then an hour, mostly small guys, below 12", on a crawdaddy fly. Got excited on one catch, while pulling him in, two hugh bucket-mouths were following and appeared to want to take it. Water was clear, and I saw one give the hooked fish a head-butt. I started giving the fish line in hopes that I could get him "ate" and land the 5-pounder. My hooked fish headed to the bank, I think he would have walked out of the pond if he could have grown a quick set of legs. My questions: was the big bass trying to "steal" the craw daddy, or was he attempting to take the smaller bass? Also, has anyone landed a big fish by letting the smaller one get taken? I read an article by a White River guide about this happening with a Brown taking a Rainbow, but never with bass.